Travel insurance for Europe from Argentina

When preparing a trip to Europe from Argentina, doubts begin to arise. Do I need to apply for a visa to go to the old continent? Am I required to have travel insurance for Europe from Argentina? At AXA Schengen, in our effort to make your life easier, we have created this article in which we clarify once and for all all the procedures an Argentine citizen must carry out to go to Europe. 

• What is needed to go to Europe from Argentina?
• What is the Schengen Area?
• The European Union
• United Kingdom
• What do they ask for to enter the Schengen Area from Argentina?
• Requirements to enter Europe from Argentina
• ETIAS Form
• Do I need insurance for Europe from Argentina?
• How much should travel insurance cover in Europe? 

What is needed to go to Europe from Argentina?

To answer this question correctly, let’s go step by step. Let’s start from the beginning: Would you know how to say what the Schengen Area is? And what about the European Union? We are going to clarify these concepts because they are fundamental for effectively preparing your trip to Europe.

What is the Schengen Area?

In Europe, there is a large entity that encompasses numerous countries and has a common visa policy: we are talking about the Schengen Area. The Schengen Area is a vast geographical area (more than 4,000,000 km2) of the European continent and includes 27 member states. Here is the list of the member states of the Schengen Area:

• Germany
• Austria
• Belgium
• Croatia
• Denmark
• Slovakia Slovenia
• Spain
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Norway
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Czech Republic
• Sweden
• Switzerland

The European Union

On the other hand, there is the European Union which also has 27 states (most of these 27 states are also members of the Schengen Area). If you are planning to travel across several European countries, it is important to know how the European Union and the Schengen Area differ as both entities have different visa policies.

There are 4 countries that belong to the Schengen Area but do not belong to the European Union. They are:

• Norway
• Iceland
• Switzerland
• Liechtenstein

And, conversely, 4 states that belong to the European Union but not to the Schengen Area:

• Ireland
• Romania 
• Bulgaria
• Cyprus

Did you know that the Schengen Area has a population of almost 420 million inhabitants and that there are 24 official languages in the European Union?

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom does not belong to either the European Union or the Schengen Area. Therefore, you will need to find out beforehand what the requirements are for traveling to the United Kingdom from Argentina.

We recommend that if you wish to visit a country that does not belong to the Schengen Area, you inform yourself about the travel requirements and recommendations on the page of the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Now that you know the entity under which the country you want to visit in Europe is governed, let’s address what procedures you will need to carry out as an Argentine to go to Europe.

What do they ask for to enter the Schengen Area from Argentina?

Argentina is among the countries that do not need to apply for a visa to enter the Schengen Area. Argentines can enter and move freely throughout the Schengen Area for a stay of less than 90 days.

On the other hand, it is essential to mention that Argentines traveling to Europe for work or study and who plan to spend more than three months in one of the states in this territory, will need to obtain a long-stay visa which is processed through the authorities of the country where they will stay during that time.

Requirements to enter Europe from Argentina

What you will definitely need to enter European territory is:

• A valid passport (it must be valid for at least 3 months from the date of departure from the country)
• Proof of where you will be staying (hotel or tourist apartment reservation, invitation letter from the person with whom you will stay)
• Demonstrate financial solvency (the minimum daily amount varies depending on the country you will visit)
• A Schengen travel insurance (this is a mandatory requirement for people who need a Schengen visa and is extremely recommended for any traveler going to Europe)
• Justify the reasons for the visit to Europe

ETIAS Form

In any case, AXA Schengen would like to inform you that nationals of countries exempt from the obligation to apply for a Schengen visa (as is the case with Argentines) will have to fill out, starting in 2024, the ETIAS form. This form is very simple to complete and costs €7.

Do I need travel insurance for Europe from Argentina?

Any citizen of a country that needs to apply for a Schengen visa is required to purchase travel insurance for Europe.

Argentine citizens are not required to purchase travel insurance for Europe, but it is highly recommended. It is important to know that Argentina does not have a health agreement with most European countries and that, in Europe, even minimal treatment can quickly add up to astronomical sums. No one is safe from falling off a scooter in the streets of Rome or Paris, from suffering a theft in Barcelona or Athens, or from having an accident while surfing in Portugal or France.

Furthermore, in the event that repatriation is necessary, if they do not have travel insurance, Argentine tourists will not be covered. And it goes without saying that the costs associated with repatriation can be very significant.

How much should travel insurance cover in Europe?

Travel insurance for Europe from Argentina must meet the following requirements (and yes, the AXA insurance for the Schengen visa meets all these requirements):

• Guarantee a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros
• Coverage in all member states of the Schengen Area
• Cover expenses resulting from urgent medical assistance, emergency hospital care, medical repatriation, and in case of death
• The validity period of the insurance must correspond exactly to the duration of stay in the Schengen Area
• It must be insurance from an authorized company by the embassies and consulates of the countries they wish to visit

Additionally, the good news is that at AXA Schengen, we have designed 3 different policies for the Schengen area to adapt to the type of travel and, above all, to the budget of each traveler. In the table we present below, you can check all the details of the travel insurance for Europe from Argentina.

From AXA Schengen, we hope this article has clarified a bit more whether you need insurance to travel to Europe from Argentina. All that remains is to wish you a very good trip.

Other articles that may interest you

• What travel insurance do I need to travel to the Schengen area from Colombia?
• What travel insurance do I need to travel to the Schengen area from Mexico?
• What travel insurance do I need to travel to the Schengen area from Ecuador?
• What travel insurance do I need to travel to the Schengen area from Peru?
• What travel insurance do I need to travel to the Schengen area from Bolivia?
• What travel insurance do I need to travel to the Schengen area from the United States?
• What travel insurance do I need to travel to the Schengen area from Chile?

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Schengen visa cost?

The Schengen visa costs €80 for those over 12 years old and €40 for children between 6 and 11 years old. Children under 5 do not pay.

What should I do in case of a medical emergency in Europe?

AXA policies include a 24-hour assistance service for medical emergencies - available seven days a week - that will connect you with local experts who will guide you step by step to resolve any situation and direct you to the nearest medical center.
Additionally, the emergency number in Europe is 112.

When is the cheapest time to go to Europe?

The low season in Europe is from November to March. However, there may be a price increase during the Christmas holidays.